Win a fancy new 256GB Surface Pro 6 to celebrate “Anything but Ordinary”

There are two reasons why we’re teaming up with Microsoft to give away a shiny new and very, very cool 256GB Surface Pro 6 worth AU$1,849.00. One, we’re just really nice people and we want you to have a good Christmas; two, Microsoft are doing something pretty damn cool in the very nifty space between tech and travel (which we’ve detailed below) and we all felt a celebration was in order.

All the details about how to enter our Surface Pro 6 competition can be found just above the form below, but you’re probably going to want to read about the other competition as well; the one Microsoft themselves are running.

It’s called the “Anything But Ordinary” series, cooked up by Microsoft Surface for the more adventurous and techy travellers across Australia and New Zealand who have something “truly unique to shout about”. The new series involves successful applicants staying in unexpected locations with custom-built activities worked up to drive creativity, productivity and learning, of course complemented by all the latest Surface products (like the Surface Pro 6 and Surface Laptop 2) to test out in real-time. It’s also a neat way to fang it on out to remote locations and showcase the forthcoming 4G LTE connectivity that has just arrived for the Surface GO.

From now, Microsoft Surface are offering a very limited numbers of spots on these trips, the first of which is to an idyllic cabin setting nestled on the hilltop of New Zealand’s stunning Fox Glacier. The second – our personal favourite – is a trip through the very remote desert of Western Australia and into the curious Wolfe Creek Meteor Crater. The final destination is a once-in-a-lifetime campout on the crystal white salt plains of Lake Gairdner in South Australia. Yep, they are taking the “Anything But Ordinary” tag very seriously.

Applications for the trips are open to everyone (though you should be of good health and fitness), and all accommodation and transfer costs are taken care of by Microsoft Australia. You’ll need to get in as soon as possible though, the spaces are extremely limited, with experiences commencing from 30th November and spots given away based on a creative entry submission along the lines of why entrants think they are “anything but ordinary”.

We’ve included all the official trip descriptions below so you can get those entries all nice and ready before entering over at fb.com/SurfaceAustralia.

Anything But Ordinary experiences:

Fox Glacier, New Zealand: 30th November – 4th December 2018
“An impenetrable frozen wonderland of blue ice-caves, steep vertical rock walls and dramatic overhangs is the first iteration of the Anything But Ordinary series. Leaving from Queenstown, guests will traverse through the dramatic countryside via helicopter, ice-climbing and snow trekking, venturing across the stunning ice with a journey as striking as the destination. A content-creators dream, at the apex, intrepid guests will find Chancellor Hut – a traditional alpine hut transformed into a tech hideout to kick back and review what they’ve captured, with a cooked dinner.”

Wolfe Creek Meteor Crater: 6th – 11th December 2018
“Experience sleeping on the edge of the unknown as we create a camping experience like no other. An epic, scenic journey across parts of Australia unseen by many, before reaching The Wolfe Creek Crater – one of the world’s most recognised meteor craters located in the remote Western Australian outback and only discovered from space in the late 1940s. Climb up onto the edge of the crater and peer into the unknown. If you dare.”

Lake Gairdner Salt Lake: Feb / March 2019 (flexible)
“Expansive white salt sheets juxtaposed against red sands and rocky outcrops, Lake Gairdner north of the Eyre Peninsula of South Australia is an Anything But Ordinary scene for a glamping stay. The isolated and open vistas will challenge guests and make for a journey like no-other. Bring your best Instagram game to capture the most jaw-dropping backdrops and enviable ‘staycation’ snaps.”

Now don’t sweat it if you don’t get a place on the trips. As we’ve said, you still have a chance to win yourself a very swish Surface Pro 6, one of the newest additions to the Surface family with 256Gb, Intel Core i5, and 8Gb RAM. All you’ve got to do is fill out the below form with your name, e-mail, and in 25 words of less tell us what is the funniest “anything but ordinary” experience you have had while travelling. Most entertaining answer wins! It’s as simple as that. Good luck.

This competition closes Monday 3rd December 2018 at 5pm AEDT. You must reside in Australian to enter. The winner will be contacted by email and will be sent the prize via post. Note that your physical mailing address will never be used for any purpose other than to send you the prize.